Pool-table pocket.



W. J. MEEKS.

POOL TABLE POCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 7, 1910.

1,005,266. v Patented 0@1.10,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. MEEKS, OF LOYAL, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN BAUER, OF LOYAL, VTISCONSIN.

POOL-TABLE POCKET.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application filed Apri1 7, 1910. Serial No. 553,949.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. MnnKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Loyal, in the county of Clark and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Pool-Table Pocket, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in pool table pockets and is designed to provide a pocket of great durability which will wear indefinitely and at the same time is of cheap construction and answers the purpose equally as well as the expensive form of pocket commonly in use.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which drawings Figure 1 is a section of a portion of a pool table showing a pocket including the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts in section of the basic member of the pocket. Fig. 3 is a diametric section of the structure of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Fig. 1 a portion of the frame 1 of a pool table with the cushion 2 and rail 3 at a point where a pocket is provided.

It is customary to make pockets for the reception of the balls of open work silk cord or other fibrous material knotted together in the form of a coarse mesh net and at the bottom this pocket is gathered together about a block upon which the balls ultimately strike.

In general construction the pocket of the present invention need not differ materially from the pockets such as just described but in accordance with the present invention the pocket is made of longitudinal members 4 and cross connecting members 5 both of metal link chains suit-ably interconnected. The cross members 5 are made shorter as the bottom of the pocket is approached so that the pocket narrows toward the bottom end and ultimately the longitudinal members 4 are connected to eyes 6 shown in the drawings as screw eyes which are inserted in the periphery of a circular block 7 having a shallow peripheral groove 8 in which the eyes are seated. It is customary to make the block 7 of wood and in order to strengthen this block against splitting there is applied a wire strand 9 traversing all the screw eyes and having its ends suitably connected together to constitute a band encircling and strengthening the block. Centrally through the block is a passage 10. At the upper ends of the strands 1 there are eyes 11 which may be of larger diameter than the eyes of the links of the chain and these eyes constitute means whereby fastening devices may be utilized for connecting the longitudinal members 4 to the rail 8 and to the frame 1 of the table.

The chain members 4 and 5 are found to be far more durable in practice than the pockets of fibrous material heretofore used, while the use of the screw eyes in the wooden block 7 together with the binding strand 9 is found in practice to protect this block against splitting which is liable to happen with the pockets employing such a block where no unyielding binding strand is employed.

The use of metal chain for the'sides of the pocket makes the pocket equally as flexible as one made of silk or like material while the use of the chain does not preclude the employment in connection therewith of some protecting material which will prevent direct contact of the balls with the metal of the chain.

Owing to the fact that the screw-eyes 6 are threaded radially into the block, the screw-eyes constitute a means for preventing the block from split-ting. The reinforcement resulting from the insertion of the screw-eyes 6, takes place, owing to the radial disposition of the screw-eyes, and owing to the further fact that the screw-eyes are threaded into the block.

What is claimed is A pool table pocket comprising a block; reinforcing members threaded radially into the block and provided in their exposed portions with eyes; a securing band eXtended through the eyes; and a tubular, flexible member assembled with the band.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. MEEKS. Witnesses G120. W. BARKER, Lizzm BRANNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

